Bengaluru, January 21: After the death of Siddaganga Mutt seer Sri Shivakumara Swamiji, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday said that state government has declared a three-day state mourning and one day holiday for all schools, colleges and government offices tomorrow. Sri Shivakumara Swamiji breathed his last at 11.44 am Today. Siddaganga Mutt Seer Sri Shivakumara Swamiji Dies at 111, Last Rites on Tuesday.

Swamiji was very critical and on life support. He was suffering from a lung infection after an operation in December last year. CM Kumaraswamy confirmed the passing of the seer and informed that cremation will be done on Tuesday at 4:30 pm. Earlier, last week, Kumaraswamy demanded Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, for Swamiji as recognition of his service to the society.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to pay condolences to the devotees of the Sri Shivakumara Swamiji. "I have had the privilege to visit the Sree Siddaganga Mutt and receive the blessings of His Holiness Dr Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu. The wide range of community service initiatives being done there are outstanding and are at an unimaginably large scale," PM Modi wrote in a tweet.

In another tweet, PM added, "HH Dr Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu remained at the forefront of ensuring better healthcare and education facilities for the marginalised. He represents the best of our traditions of compassionate service, spirituality and protecting the rights of the underprivileged."

Sri Shivakumara Swami was born in Veerapura village of Karnataka's Ramanagara district on 1st April 1907. Founder of the Sri Siddaganga Education Society, he offered excess to education for thousands of poor. For hos good work, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2015. The Lingayat leader was idolised by millions and was known as the incarnation of the 12th-century social reformer Basava.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 21, 2019 03:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).